The Navigator Vol 47 Issue 02

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Vol 47

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Take the time to be mindful and de-stress

The politics of youth

Mariner highlights

VIU’s counselling department is offering new initiatives and workshops to help students combat stress and anxiety.

Youth have the power to make a significant difference in this election; they have the power to be a massive force for cultural change if they choose to accept it.

Mariners start off with mixed results with two losses and an outstanding win.

contents

NEWS

FEATURES 08

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08 04 Earth: Everyday A personal reflection on the meaning and culture of sustainability

08 Editorials

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05 Zombies hit the streets of Nanaimo Voting for the "addresschallenged"

Point of VIU

Paul Manly and Elizabeth May climb the hill to visit VIU

ARTS 14 08 08 04 The Martian Book Review

15 Wish I Was Here Movie Review

Food festival turns to VIU students for hospitality help

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Out of addiction and into education

16 VIU hosts Nanaimo's first gaming convention

Waterfalls

18 Gold & Shadow light the way with Torch

The politics of youth

CON T EN TS

20 Mariner highlights

21 Fast fall recipes Need motivation to hit the gym or eat your greens?

22 Odds & Ends Contributing to The Navigator

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08 04 Festival Harvest

Mental Health Matters: Back to school

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Take the time to be mindful and de-stress

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Volleyball: For the thrill of it

Nanaimo Community Gardens Society Greenhouse Project

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SPORTS & LIFESTYLE

Calendar

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letters

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Dear Editor,

CONTRIBUTORS Josh Berson TJ Heath Zoe Lauckner Aaron Morin Kimberly Plumley Hayley Rickaby Spenser Smith Chantelle Spicer

THE NAVIGATOR IS Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief

Emily Johnston Graphic Designer

Kaytee Davis Art Director

Avery Crosson Graphic Designer

Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor

Gabby Fleming, Shaina Bolduc Ad/Sales Rep

Alyssa Morton Arts Editor Natalie Gates News Editor Catherine Charlebois Sports & Lifestyle Editor Kelly Whiteside Production Manager Lori Shwydky Copy Editor

A Mr. Dandy recently wrote: “We did not cause the current refugee crisis in the Middle East...These refugees are fleeing political instability caused by ISIS and the Assad regime”. However, searching outside of the pro-war slant of mainstream news agencies, one finds that nothing could be further from the truth.

Lyndon LaRouche was a former US presidential candidate. His news blog finally hit the nail on the head. See “Putin Syria Trap” on <larouchepac. com> where it is stated: “Russian surveillance drones are already mapping out territory held by ISIS, and Nusra Front, and other Westernbacked rebel groups. Increasingly, Obama will be faced with exposure for backing ISIS”.

Are the lights coming on yet people?

The West and its allies have been funding and arming the Arab rebels and ISIS in order to create domestic war and replace the Syrian leader with a minion of the Western superpowers.

Russia, by stepping in to actually stop the attack on Syria by the Westernbacked ISIS rebels and mercenaries, is exposing the truth that this war, as in the case with Iraq and Libya, was created by the West for domination and control of Middle Eastern oil and trade routes.

Just Google search ‘The truth about the Syrian conflict - Woollam’. There you will find a compilation of material to substantiate these claims.

Are these Syrian people to be labelled as “potential terrorists” or are we to treat them as refugees fleeing from the ME crisis which the West has been fueling for 14 years?

Let us hold the US Administration and our own Federal government accountable once and for all. If we, the people, are too afraid to discuss such topics, then such fear will be our own demise.

Sincerely, Bill Woollam (Lone Howling Wolf)

Megan Wolfe Social Media Sp. Antony Stevens Web Editor Lynne Williams Bookkeeper Christine Franic Business Manager

To submit, visit <www.thenav.ca> or email <editor@thenav.ca>.

All submissions must be original work of the author. Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions, and to edit for space or clarity. Letters to the editor should be no more than 400 words in length. The Navigator does not pay for letters. Opinions expressed in The Navigator are expressly those of the author and/or artist and do not reflect the views of The Navigator staff.

900 Fifth St. Bldg. 193, rm. 217 Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5 T: 250-753-2225 F: 250-753-2257

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NEVER EAT SOGGY WAFFLES: CREATING A SENSE OF DIRECTION Molly Barrieau Editor-in-Chief The Navigator

Okay, let’s get political. The other day, after scrolling through my friendly Twitter feed, I paused to see the CBC’s Vote Compass link. It was ideal timing, as my inner democratic compass was spinning wildly as if I stood on the North Pole’s legislative peak.

The link led me to a bright site, asking “Where do you stand?” Below that, an ever-augmented number showed us just how many Canadians have also sought bearing. At the time of publication, over 681 thousand people have done the quiz.

As per usual, CBC nailed it with their version of the “which character are you most like?” Facebook quizzes of yore (a.k.a. 2007), providing colourful graphics and easy-tonavigate clickable answers. There were questions like: “How much should wealthier people pay in taxes?” along with the grittier questions surrounding the pipeline, abortion, and the decriminalization of marijuana.

The quiz-taker is given a choice between standard answers with vague signifiers like “somewhat”, and “much”, allowing for some serious indecision-making.

Once you get through the issues, CBC asks you to rate each candidate on their trustworthiness and likeability (I may have exaggerated a bit in this section).

It took a mere ten minutes to retrieve my results, and in true infographic-heavy style, CBC allowed me to view each response in relation to each party’s stance. A simple x/y axis directed me to a corner box, where I sat comfortably between the contenders, like a mouse skirting delicately around the elephant’s stomping feet.

In the end, I was left with no more direction than where I began. I sit among many Islanders who see la vie en verte, but wonder if my vote will make an impact for our all-encompassing native land. I was hopeful that my Vote Compass results would

lead me to clarity; however it did just the opposite.

And whaddya know, a few days later, while researching, CBC gave me a very different result. In one corner, you have three parties, and those three parties, so closely knit together, end up within percentage points of each other on my scale.

Come Election Day (October 19, mark your calendar, kiddies), where will I place my magic marker X? Is there something to be said about Canadians, especially young Canadians, and their indecisive nature to politics?

Are we a generation of indifference and convenience, looking for the easy way out of a problem set in place by the (dare I say it) crotchety old men in ill-fitting suits? (Cut to: Harper in Mexico, 2014.)

So there I sat, bewildered that even a computer program designed to decide for you couldn’t even figure me out. It told me that I could probably close my eyes, hover over the orange and green and let gravity choose for me.

And so I wonder, is this the result that other youth voters receive, are we simply told that, “Well, you could vote for anyone, as long as it is not Conservative?” Confirming the idea that strategic voting—voting against who you don’t want, not for who you do want—may just be a driving force this October.

I encourage you now, dear reader, to trust your instinct, not your parents’ instinct, and check the box locally and nationally for the future of our confused generation.

AN ARGUABLY PARTISAN LOOK AT VOTE SPLITTING

Alexandria Stuart Associate Editor The Navigator

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There’s a lot of talk around the Island, talk about how “the left” is being torn between two lovers— the Green Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP)—and how the consequences (just like the last three elections) may wind up burning when you pee—another four years under Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government.

I’m not a mathematician. Apparently you need a degree in mathematics (statistics/probability/ magic) to really wrap your head around the phenomenon called “vote splitting” in an election.

Succinctly put by <Votesplit.org>, “Vote splitting is an electoral effect in which the distribution of votes among multiple similar candidates reduces the chance of winning for any of the similar candidates, and increases the chance of winning for a dissimilar candidate.” Here, that “dissimilar candidate” is the Conservative Party.

Three ridings representing VIU’s coverage area (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, NanaimoLadysmith, and Courtenay-Alberni), look like they’ll be swing ridings this election. The new riding boundaries and maps of past election results predict close races that could result in Conservative wins because of vote splitting between the NDP, Liberals, and Greens. Harper’s Conservative Party may wind up in power— again—with support from less than 50 per cent of Canadian voters (only 39 per cent in 2011, meaning that a whopping 60 per cent of Canadian voters

actually wanted someone else). The Canadian political system—the first past the post system that creates these scenarios—is flawed, but it’s what we’re stuck with.

So, lacking those kind of number-smart credentials, I wanted to look at it in terms we all understand: pie. I had a magical four-flavour pie in mind: bumbleberry, cherry, grannysmith apple, and sweet potato. I had numbers representing the size of each slice to illustrate how a little bit of cherry and apple could join sweet potato to knock out the bumbleberry. Sadly, even pie couldn’t help cultivate understanding here. I thought I had a handle on the topic, but the more I read, the more confused I got. A look at <votesmartnanaimo.net> helped, but not quite enough.

In simplest terms, to foil the one you don’t want in power, you may need to join with another and vote for the candidate that has the single strongest chance at defeating the local Conservative candidate in your riding. It may be your second choice candidate, but you probably have quite a lot in common anyway, and the bigger picture has to be more important here.

Seeing the writing on the wall, the Conservatives are busy starting fights between the opposition parties to keep them off balance and off-message. Those parties need to open their eyes, remember that they enjoy a lot in common, and settle down or risk handing this election to

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Stephen Harper.

Some will tell you that vote splitting is a myth, and they’ll trot out numbers and statistics to support that. They urge you to vote with your heart, not with your head. The numbers can support any argument; you just need to know how to arrange them. But this time around, voting with your heart could land us all back in a very dark place for four more years.

The good news is that all of the opposition parties include electoral reform in their platforms, so if we keep the bumbleberry pie off the table, this may be the last time that strategic voting is even a thing. The bad news is that the table is still up for grabs this time around.

Head or heart, I harbour a fear that the whole vote-splitting conversation will confuse voters to the point that they’ll just stay home. And that doesn’t do anyone any good. To them, I say this: “Your vote is important. It counts. If you can’t get your head around strategic voting, go ahead and vote with your heart. Walk up to that ballot box, take a breath, check in with your gut, then make your mark. It’s your right, it’s your responsibility, and it matters. So please, just show up.”

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news

Zombies hit the streets of downtown Nanaimo Natalie Gates The Navigator Nanaimo’s downtown core was invaded by zombies on Sunday, September 13 around 4 p.m.

Undead men, women, and even little zombie children paraded through the streets as they groaned and snarled at frightened onlookers.

The apocalyptic march filled the quiet streets with commotion. While several cried out for brains to eat, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Natalie Gates

VOTING FOR THE “ADDRESS-CHALLENGED” Natalie Gates

vouch for your address if you have two pieces of ID, but neither shows your address.

Many students have two addresses; one is their “home address” where they lived with their parents before moving for school, and the other is where they stay during the semester.

This can make it confusing when trying to figure out how to cast their ballot. Before voting you must register to vote at <elections.ca> for the riding you plan to vote for. You will need to prove you have an address within that riding.

To vote on election day (October 19) or on an advanced voting day (October 9, 10, 11, 12), at a polling station, you will need: • One piece of phoro ID with your name, and current address.

• Two pieces of ID—one with your current address.

• Or take an oath—show two pieces of ID with your name and have someone who knows you vouch for you. They must show proof of identity and address, be registered

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As you may know, youth voter turnout in Canada has been less The Navigator than stellar, with only 38.8 percent of youth voting in the 2011 federal election. While there are several reasons behind this—apathy towards politics, distrust in the government, or feeling as if they can’t make a difference—for some it is simply the hassle that comes with voting.

Stephen Harper’s changes to Canada’s Election Act made it so voters can no longer use their voter registration card that comes in the mail as identification at the polls. In 2011, 400 thousand people used this method. In addition, voters who do not have suitable identification can no longer vote by having another elector with the correct ID vouch for them; in 2011, 120 thousand used this option. Now the only way to vote is to provide your driver’s license or provincial/territorial ID card, or to show two pieces of ID that may not have your photo but at least one of which has your address. You can have someone

in the same polling division, and only vouch for one person.

If you cannot provide any of these with proof of your school address or make it home to vote, you can: • Vote at any Elections Canada office with your ID and address before October 13. These offices are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

• Or apply to vote by mail with proof of your ID and address.

Do this as soon as possible, as the deadline is October 13 and you want to ensure your ballot gets to Elections Canada by voting day. <Elections.ca> can help you find your riding, find the nearest Elections Canada office, apply to vote by mail, and register to vote.

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PAUL MANLY AND ELIZABETH MAY CLIMB THE HILL TO VISIT VIU

Natalie Gates The Navigator

A MEET AND GREET WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TALK ONE-ON-ONE WITH CANDIDATES FROM EACH PARTY

Catherine Charlebois

Paul Manly speaks with students.

On September 8, the VIU Greens hosted a garden party on VIU’s Nanaimo campus to provide information about the upcoming federal election and to promote the Green Party’s platform. Students had the opportunity to meet and talk with Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP candidate Paul Manly.

A meet-and-greet with opportunities for students to talk one-on-one with candidates from each party will take place at VIU on September 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m..Candidates from NanaimoLadysmith as well as CowichanMalahat-Langford will be in attendance.

VIU student Colleen Haddad enjoys some cake while she learns about the Green party’s platform.

Catherine Charlebois

NANAIMO COMMUNITY GARDENS SOCIETY GREENHOUSE PROJECT Catherine Charlebois The Navigator The Nanaimo Community Gardens Society (NCGS) is in the running for a $25k funding grant by the Co-op Community Spaces Program.

One of four project finalists, NCGS aims to build an educational greenhouse in Beban Park with the additional funding. In hopes of expanding its ongoing projects furthering education on local food

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production, they will involve communities and schools, as well as produce seedlings and produce to be sold and donated.

Since last spring, the Co-op program has donated $1 million towards projects of recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture like community gardens across western Canada.

One of 16 projects funded this year, Nanaimo’s greenhouse main competitors are a community

playground in Alberta, a town square Voting continues until September in Saskatchewan, and a community 25. For more information, visit <www. rain garden in Manitoba. communityspaces.ca>.

William Farris, president of NCGS, hopes the funding will help sow the seeds for tomorrow.

“We’re thankful for Co-op’s forward thinking community investing. With their gift of funding for a greenhouse, our knowledgeable volunteers and contractors will be able to inspire citizens of all generations to get growing all year long,” Farris said.

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Take the time to be mindful and de-stress Natalie Gates

VIU’s counselling department is offering new initiatives and workshops to help The Navigator students combat stress and anxiety, as well as a new room to practice mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation in the Health and Wellness Centre.

New this year, the Wellness Series workshops are scheduled group sessions based on the core reasons students go to see counsellors, said VIU counsellor Michelle Daoust.

Each of the five workshops (The Art of Relating, Emotional Pain is Not a Sickness, Living Well While You Learn, Stress: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly, and Transforming Anxiety) are scheduled twice in the semester. A full description and schedule for each workshop can be found at <www2.viu.ca/counselling/WellnessSeriesWorkshops>.

“We meet with students whenever they hit road bumps,” said Daoust. “Most of our work has been one-on-one counselling, but we think it is wonderful when we can connect larger groups of people.

These techniques are not stigma-inducing like the counselling department, unfortunately, still is.”

The new room, the Breathing Space, is open to all staff and students as a place to sit in silence, practice meditation, or simply relax. There will also be scheduled sessions which may include breathing exercises, guided meditation, walking meditation, basic stretching, body scans, and relaxation techniques.

“Mindfulness has become huge in North America over the last 30 years, but this way of being in the present moment with yourself has been around for thousands of years,” said Daoust. “So we wanted to offer a place where we can facilitate mindful movement and meditation activities right on campus.”

The scheduled guided sessions are taking place every Thursday

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this semester. From September 17-October 29, the sessions are 12:1512:45 p.m.; from November 5-December 15 they will be at 11:15-11:45 a.m.

“There will be one mindfulness and meditation room for women, and one for men,” Daoust said. “The reason for this is because the Muslim population uses separate rooms for men and women, and so we have been able to offer that need.”

The room will be open for use whenever the building is open, from 6:45 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday to Friday. The only other times access will be restricted is if a group of students books the room in advance for private use. There are no appointments or signing up needed to use the room or participate in the booked mindful movement and meditation times.

“This is a space to sit and be; it’s a place to quiet the mind and body. So it’s not for a group of students that want to get together in a quiet space to do a research paper.”

Both the new workshops and the guided Breathing Space sessions will be led by VIU’s five counsellors. The department wants to have more hours in the day where there will be someone in the room doing guided meditations and, later on, they would also like to have other members in the community with a knowledge of guiding mindful movement and meditation come lead sessions.

“We are hoping to bring a new way of being to the student,” Daoust said. “We want to find a way of well-being beyond just therapy through talking, with a way to connect mind, body, and spirit.”

The Health and Wellness Centre is located in bldg. 200, with the Wellness Series Workshops in rm. 237 and the Breathing Space in rm. 107B.

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“MINDFULNESS HAS BECOME HUGE IN NORTH AMERICA OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, BUT THIS WAY OF BEING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT WITH YOURSELF HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.” -MICHELLE DAOUST

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EVERYDAY EARTH A personal reflection on the meaning and culture of sustainability It is with great pleasure that I give the environment a voice within Contributor The Navigator, as that voice rings definitively within my own head and life. I have lived my life under many labels: “hippie,” “naturalist,” “environmentalist,” and “activist.” Each place I live in seems to identify the way I live under a different term; however, to me, it is always the same life.

When I was eight years old, I decided (for the first time) to become a vegetarian. The consumption of animals was just too sad for this little farm girl—they were my confidants, my friends, members of a larger family of connected animals. I was a very broad-minded child, which has not changed as I’ve aged. I educated myself within the vast agricultural-driven landscapes of Nebraska, on the impacts of consuming meat on a global scale and on the effects of agriculture of vegetation such as corn and soy, both of which were happening all around me on my own soil. I became submerged in research regarding Chantelle Spicer the hunting of whales in the Pacific, impending climate change (this was in the 1990s, so it was still impending), deforestation, and every topic on the environment I could lay my hands on.

This inquiry not only impacted what led to what some would view as lame summer vacations filled with reading, but also my future life.

I am now a student at VIU with a diploma in Forest Resources (where my major focus was on ecology), and working toward my major in Anthropology. I live quite fully in two different worlds—having both a science-based mind and an emotional heart. There’s a deep connection to Chantelle Spicer the natural world alongside a vast appreciation of our human-made world and cultures. I strive to tread lightly upon this planet while being an active participant in all of life. It is a dichotomy I am always aware of and exploring. I am a self-identified and avid sustainability and environmental devotee. This is also a large part of me which many people identify me through.

So I ask myself, what does this really mean to me? Why do I choose this path? Is it even a choice?

Sustainability is many things, but above all it is a lifestyle choice concerning many aspects of my existence—from diet to consumer practices to transportation, it has far-reaching effects. I am an avid re-user of plastic bags and paper cups, a frequenter of public transit and farmers’ markets, and I

Chantelle Spicer

Sunset on Protection Island.

Sunlight in Tofino.

Fall colours across the lake.

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maintain a very water-conscious flower garden (do I ever love lavender). I am also part of a large global community and culture filled with like-minded people. We fall under the label of “hippie” or “environmentalist” through our actions which support a better or more conscious world—it is a culture which is supported by scientists, the United Nations, hundreds of non-governmental organizations, and probably you, the reader of this article.

In ecological terms, sustainability is defined by the capacity to endure. Think of a forest, as it is one of the best examples of sustainability on this level that I have come across. It never takes more than it requires to simply live and function within a closed-loop system. It takes nutrients from the soil it has helped create through its own organic inputs—leaves and other debris.

The trees work to help stabilize the soil through its network of roots, thereby conserving water, which it then uses within itself and creates more water through evapo-transpiration. It is elegant, unconscious, and enduring, even through disturbance.

A forest, however, has no obvious philosophy—only existence.

It is not only actions which make this culture. These actions are rooted in a philosophy and consciousness which is rooted on an individual basis—each person will create their own meaning for choosing this lifestyle. The ideology of my choice lies in respect and a glimpse of understanding, which is its own closed-loop system, each idea feeding the other. I say a “glimpse” because there is no fully understanding nature—it is powerful, irrational, and eternal—it works in ways we will never fully comprehend no matter how advanced the science.

With this comes a profound respect for such a system and a desire to more critically consider and better understand what it means to be a part of it. Under this intellectual philosophy lies yet another layer, which is my true philosophy and guiding star through my life and all the decisions that come with it. It is a true gut feeling. I feel it when I hear of any human-caused destruction of nature, when I drive past the dump, when I walk through vast clear-cut blocks of old-growth forests. I feel it like a devastation to myself. Mixed with this is an unsullied sense of child-like wonder at the beauty of the natural world. One must ask, if you love your life, feel awe when faced with magnificent landscape and place your hand against a 500-year-old tree, when you turn on your tap to clean water and open your lungs to fresh air, how can someone not respect and covet that?

This life I have is more than me. It is my inherent duty to show respect to the planet which gave me the ability to live. It is also my duty to ensure that it is allowed to continue in this way, not for the sake of future human generations, but for its own sake. I encourage all who read this and the many articles to come to critically examine your decisions in all aspects of your life, and to spend some time in natural beauty both on and off campus. Cheers to a new term, self-exploration, and everyone out there doing their part!

For some incredible insight and inspiration into naturalism and environmental respect, I encourage everyone to check out The Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, or our own provincial environmental superhero David Suzuki at <davidsuzuki.org>.

Chantelle Spicer

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features

POINT OF VIU

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO VOTE FOR?

MOLLY BARRIEAU | THE NAVIGATOR

DANNY DEYAEGHER

KARLY KING SIMPSON

RUBEN OUSSOREN

TIA SCHAEFER

EUODIA MUTUA

Computer Science

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Hospitality Management

Psychology

Graphic Design

“To be completely honest, when it gets closer to the day, I’m going to hole myself up in a room and learn as much as I can. At the end of the day, I want my decision to be mine, not of those around me. I want to get as much information as I can.”

“I don’t live anywhere, so I don’t think I can vote. I was thinking that I can’t even use my address here because I haven’t lived here for a year, and I don’t live at my home anymore. I don’t have an address to vote from.”

“I am not really following the Canadian system. I have been here for three years, and I grew up with a different system in South Africa, so I never really bothered to follow-up and learn the new way they do things here.”

“I talked to Paul Manly when he was here (on campus). It was eyeopening. This is my first year here, and they were engaging students and young people whether they’re first, fourth, or fifth year. I liked that.”

“I don’t vote. I choose not to vote because I do not think human people are capable of making good decisions.”

FOOD FESTIVAL TURNS TO VIU STUDENTS FOR HOSPITALITY HELP Kimberly Plumley

Nanaimo’s newest annual festival, Feastival, is a unique celebration of the Island’s culinary culture.

VIU’s Hospitality Program will have a chance to shine when up to 60 students head up the welcoming crew for visitors. “It’s a privilege to work with these dedicated students in our partnership with VIU. After all, hospitality is at the centre of so much of this part of our culture,” says Kim Smythe, Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO. Feastival will include food trucks, a farmers market, celebrity chefs, family cooking lessons, a trade show profiling growers, producers, processors, distributors, value-added products, appliances, kitchen goods, and culinary accompaniments. A “Sips” section features tastings of Island wines, craft brews, and spirits; and restaurants take on the “Samples” side. One of the most highly anticipated sample items is chowder, and Feastival is proud to host the 2nd Annual Seafood Chowder Contest. The champion will be decided by a panel of celebrity judges and, ultimately, a People’s Choice vote. Four celebrity chefs will choose recipes from their own cookbooks to demonstrate and share with the audience. Don Genova, of CBC fame, will highlight items from his first book, a BC bestseller, Food Artisans of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Cory Parsons, a Nanaimo chef and author who Contributor

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happens to be quadriplegic, will show you how he gets around a kitchen to produce some amazing dishes. Daksha Narsing, spice master and author of numerous Indian inspired cookbooks will spice things up. Hilary Malone of Sea Salt Food Co., one of the trio of family caterers and cookbook authors, will feature dishes most popular with their customers.

Family cooking lessons will be held in three sets during the day—one each for families with children, teens, and seniors hosted by the chefs at Nanaimo FoodShare Society. The focus will be on preparing local, natural, nutritional foods for your family that please the tastebuds and cut the bottom line on your grocery bill.

Nanaimo’s biggest one-day food festival, Feastival is Saturday, September 26 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Look for the admission-free area outdoors on Gordon Street. Admission to the show is $5, or $3 for children under 12, and $15 for families. Food/drink tickets are $2 each and the workshop admission fee is $6 per person.

Watch for door prizes, exhibitor prizes, draws, and raffles throughout the day. For more information, visit <nanaimochamber.bc.ca/chamber-events/ feastival>.

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OUT OF ADDICTION AND INTO EDUCATION

“THERE WAS THIS HORRIBLE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PART OF ME THAT KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING WAS COMPLETELY UNSUSTAINABLE AND THE PART OF ME THAT HAD TO KEEP USING.”

Light at the end of the tunnel.

When Nate Speert’s parents tried to talk Contributor him into moving to Nanaimo from Vancouver to attend a treatment centre for his problem with drugs, Speert resisted by using the tactics he knew best: anger, hostility, and manipulation.

He thought he could beat his addiction on his own—an idea that is seemingly universal among addicts and alcoholics.

As his life became steadily more unmanageable, he eventually gave in to the pressure, and decided to accept the help they were offering.

Now, with over 15 months of sobriety, Speert’s life has transformed from a state of hopelessness into a life of direction and purpose.

According to the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in five Canadians experience a mental health or addiction problem in any given year.

Although Speert, 28, falls into that statistic, he doesn’t have a stereotypical drug addict story.

He didn’t grow up in an abusive home or a life of poverty. Throughout his active addiction, he never resorted to crime to support his drug use. He even completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC, with a major in psychology and minor in philosophy.

But no matter what his childhood or upbringing may have looked like, he eventually became afflicted with the mental obsession to use drugs at any cost to change the way he felt. The emotional turmoil it caused was unbearable.

“There was this horrible conflict between the part of me that knew what I was doing was completely unsustainable, and the part of me that had to keep using,” Speert says. “I remember bussing out to the pharmacy where I was picking up the drugs that I was abusing; I had this sick feeling in my stomach because part of me didn’t want to go and part of me did. I felt subhuman at that point.”

As his drug use continued to escalate, every aspect of his life became unmanageable. He couldn’t hold down a job. His mind was in a constant state of obsession, and maintaining meaningful relationships with friends and family became impossible.

Speert’s parents could tell that something serious

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Decision Point Center

was going on. The lying and erratic behaviour were all out of character for their son. They offered him the opportunity to attend Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo. At first, Speert had no desire to get treatment for his addiction.

“My parents were trying to push treatment on me pretty hard, and I was doing everything I could to resist,” he says.

“One strategy I would use is to get extremely angry and hostile. I would manipulate them, and blame their worry on stuff that was going on for them.”

Speert finally did agree to come to Nanaimo for treatment, and it was more because he wanted an escape from the insanity of his daily life than anything.

“My life was not going well, and I revelled in the idea of escaping to another place. I don’t think I would have been cool going to treatment in Vancouver,” says Speert.

“Now I am super grateful my parents did what they did.”

Speert spent five months at Edgewood, where he completed both the inpatient and extended care programs. After his stay at Edgewood, he decided to permanently relocate to Nanaimo. Now with over 15 months of sobriety, he continues to attend weekly group therapy sessions at Edgewood and regularly attends 12-step meetings. Speert is amazed at the complete transformation of his physical, mental, and spiritual health, and the hope that has been restored to his life. “The biggest thing that has changed has been my relationships and how they are way more genuine and honest.

I can share with people what is actually going on and I don’t have to constantly be lying,” says Speert. “I have promise in my life. I see a bright

future for myself, whereas before I didn’t. I don’t have that impending sense of dread.”

Speert says he is grateful for everyone who has helped him and is adamant that he needs to give back in order to maintain his sobriety. “One thing that really helps me stay sober is doing service and volunteering. In my active addiction I definitely felt separate from, rather than part of. I also did some volunteering at VIU in an ESL classroom, and that was really helpful, feeling involved, feeling part of—not feeling separate from or isolated,” he says.

In January, Speert began attending VIU. He says one of the best things about the university is the amount of people there in recovery from addiction.

“I was on Facebook in the computer lab to track people’s numbers down to call them up to make amends and I was super nervous. As soon as I would start typing a message to get a phone number, I would look up and I would see someone in recovery walk by. That was kind of like a God shot for me, and gave me the strength to get that number to make that amends.”

Speert began the Bachelor of Education, Post Baccalaureate degree program this fall with hopes to pursue his goal of becoming a teacher.

He says he feels blessed to have built a new life in Nanaimo and for the opportunity to become a teacher, but feels the biggest gift of all is the loss of his daily obsession to use drugs. “It’s completely liberating. I feel like a human being again,” says Speert. “Active addiction is slavery, so to not have that monkey on my back, it’s reason to believe in God.”

“I have promise in my life. I see a bright future for myself, whereas before I didn’t. I don’t have that impending sense of dread.”

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WATERFALLS 2

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Spenser Smith Contributor

1 — Ammonite Falls contains striking waterfalls that are found deep within the fossillayered canyons of Benson Creek Falls Regional Park.

2 — Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park is composed of a thrilling series of waterfalls that flow through a jagged ravine.

3 — Well-trodden trails that offer easily accessible views of several sets of falls along the Millstone River make Bowen Park an ideal place for waterfall watching.

4 — Located off a logging road near Nanoose Bay, the falls

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at Bonnell Creek give off a

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steady roar that can be heard from far-off distances.

5 — With mossy spill banks and cascading waterfalls, Colliery Dam is full of picturesque views.

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THE POLITICS OF YOUTH Alexandria Stuart

Millennials get a bad rap. This particular generation—“youth” born roughly between 1986 The Navigator and 1997—have been labelled apathetic, lazy, and entitled. Sweeping generalizations rarely help when examining human behaviour, but bitter-tasting tar seems to accompany the word “millennial” as it rolls from the tongue. Yet, as the generation moves more deeply into adulthood, they’re dispelling some of these myths.

Samara Canada recently examined one of the misconceptions—that youth are apathetic and disengaged from politics. A non-partisan charity with a mandate to increase civic engagement, Samara released a report on September 9 that challenges the perception that youth aren’t politically engaged. “Message Not Delivered: The Myth of Apathetic Youth and the Importance of Contact in Political Participation” looks at record lows in voter turnout among youth—38.8 per cent in the 2011 federal election—in contrast with youth engagement in political activities. Participation in campaigns, volunteering, and petitions is actually 11 per cent higher among Canadians under 30 compared to those over 30. Millennials aren’t disengaged, but there’s a disconnect happening between that passion of participation and the trip to the ballot box.

First-year student at Simon Fraser University, Russell Copley is challenging that trend. “I am registered to vote, I am 18, and I plan on voting. I am a young person, so of course I have researched the political parties—it is my future after all.” Raised in a politically engaged household and school environment, his ideas are well-formed. He agrees that youth aren’t given enough credit. “I feel like when it comes to research and knowing about politics, it is the older generations who are apathetic… after all, they’ll all be dead soon, so what does it matter about long term environmental, economic, and social impact to them.”

Following the 2011 Federal General Election, Elections Canada conducted The National Youth Survey (NYS) in an attempt to understand youth participation in the electoral process. The survey included a national random sample of young adults between 18 and 34, as well as a nonrandom sample of often-marginalized sub-groups (youth classified as Aboriginal, ethnocultural, rural, disabled, and those not in school and unemployed). The survey reported that the most common reasons for not voting were personal circumstances such as travel or commitments to family, school, or work; feeling unprepared, lacking knowledge of the candidates and issues.

The NYS identified specific barriers to voting.

In terms of motivation, the study uncovered a lack of political knowledge and lack of interest in seeking it. Coupled with a general belief that all parties and politicians were the same, and didn’t speak to youth issues, this made voting futile.

Sheila Malcolmson with young volunteers in Nanaimo.

This is in line with the experience of recent high school graduate Noelle Tolley. “I don’t know Courtesy of Josh Berson that much about politics. My friend Eden and I are really interested, but we don’t know where to get information.” She is registered to vote though, and eager to learn enough to make an informed choice.

Access to information about the political process, including how and when to vote, was another significant barrier. Seemingly simple issues like transportation, voter cards lost in the mail, and having the required identification were also barriers (the latter has the potential to create very serious problems in the coming election due to the new Fair Elections Act; see page five for more information on voter registration). Finally, those with post-secondary education were more likely to vote, while those living with low income were less likely. Among the sub-groups identified in the NYS, the above barriers were all a factor, but exponentially so.

In a quest to improve youth voter turnout, one of the most immediate ways to improve the numbers comes down to access: • publicize where, when, and how to vote; • find reliable ways to distribute voter information cards; • ensure identification requirements are realistic; and • make polling stations easily accessible to youth (i.e. on

Hugh Thorburn, left, and Sacia Burton, right, door-knocking for the Paul Manly campaign.

Courtesy of the Paul Manly Campaign for The Green Party Campaign Team

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university campuses).

Sacia Burton, canvassing coordinator for the Paul Manly campaign team, says, “As a young Canadian, I find it incredibly frustrating to see Canadian democracy unravel through apathy and confusion about the electoral system. I want to help demystify politics for the under-30 crowd.

Participating in the political process shouldn’t be difficult or intimidating.”

Removing the walls between youth and the ballot box is the first step.

Engaging their interest is another matter. “Message Not Delivered” made it clear that one key tactic can increase engagement with the youth vote, something political campaigns can start doing today: create contact between youth and political leaders. This contact—by candidates themselves or their (preferably younger) campaign staff—can be used to work through any barriers that keep youth (even interested youth) away from polling places.

Paul Manly, candidate for the Green Party, says, “We have been engaging youth by reaching out to youth; by attending events that youth go to, such

“I HAD TO RESEARCH THIS EVIDENCE MYSELF. POLITICAL PARTIES CATER TO THE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY, WHICH IS MEANINGLESS. EVERYONE THINKS THEY’RE MIDDLE CLASS, EVEN IF THEY CLEARLY AREN’T.” - RUSSELL COPLEY as dance performances, artist’s events, live music shows, and farmer’s markets; having public meetings at The Vault Café; and going to the campus to make ourselves available to students.”

The federal Liberal Party has also been actively reaching out to young voters. “We have been very successful attracting volunteers and support through a series of outreach meetings, personal contact, and social media,” Liberal candidate Tim Tessier says.

“We know that it is crucial that we engage young people as we approach this historic election,” says Sheila Malcolmson, NDP candidate for NanaimoLadysmith. Attention to the environment, and changes to make the electoral system more fair are just some of the priorities she’s hearing about from youth.

Despite some candidates’ efforts to connect, 45 per cent of youth report that they’ve had no contact with political leaders. Young Canadians tend to be more transient, so it’s possible that the message is right, but it just isn’t finding its recipient via conventional channels, like a home mailing address or calls to a land line. It’s possible that the message is there, but it isn’t meaningful to the younger audience because it uses the wrong kind of language and isn’t tailored to the interests of youth.

“We began several months ago working with the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Young Liberal Association,” Tessier says. “First, we had them identify their key concerns and how to best engage young voters. Our young voters were given autonomy on strategies and implementation. The biggest concern was how to engage interest, followed closely by educating them as to how important this election is to their future.”

Malcolmson says, “Our local team is thrilled with the support we are receiving from young people and students. They are volunteering and we are giving them leadership roles in my campaign. They bring energy and fresh perspectives, and every day they remind me what is at stake on October 19. And we are working hard to recruit and welcome more.”

While the three opposition parties are actively engaging youth and courting their votes, attempts to secure comments for this story from the candidate for the Conservative Party were unsuccessful.

Typical get-out-the-vote (GOTV) tactics can also be effective with youth.

Face-to-face contact can boost turnout, and the nature of that contact itself may even be more meaningful than the party’s message or platform. Peerto-peer contact (i.e. peer pressure) helps. Involving youth in campaigns helps foster those peer relationships. “We engage youth in the campaign, respect their abilities, and give them responsibilities and opportunities

Young Liberals join a campaign event in Nanaimo.

Courtesy of The Liberal Party

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for work experience that will count toward future job applications,” Manly says. Technology is an important part of millennials’ lives, so text messaging and social media are important tools, also employed by the Green Party campaign. Regardless of the GOTV tactics used, they make the biggest impact close to election day.

Organizations like Rock the Vote are focused on creating a cultural shift in the way that youth view politics, creating a culture where conversation, engagement, and voting are second nature for all citizens, especially youth. Their tactics include partnering with artists, musicians, and other performers who are prominent in pop culture to help deliver the message that politics are not only important, but can be cool and sexy too. Rock the Vote Canada hasn’t been active this election, but their website redirects to <votesavvy.ca>, a similarly youth-inspired and youth-led group that works to help youth understand the issues.

Political engagement doesn’t end on election day and then restart with the next provincial or municipal campaign. Strengthening political life outside of election campaigns is an important part of boosting civic engagement generally. When politics—not just on the hill, but issues and policies that govern everyday lives—comes to the lunch table or bus stop, it loses the feeling of being arms length, of being something that is only for “them.” When parents are politically engaged, their attitudes rub off on their children. Their interest and excitement is contagious. Political life belongs to every Canadian citizen; they just need to open their ears and eyes and dive in. “Working on the campaign team has led to countless political discussions—not just in the office, but at parties, in classes, and over coffee. It’s great to be able to normalize the practice of talking about politics with people my age,” Burton says.

Political parties have a part to play between elections as well by keeping regular contact with their members and listening to their issues and concerns. They can do ground level fieldwork in places like colleges and universities, engage conversation, and ingrain the importance of civic duty at every opportunity. They also need to ensure that politics are discussed early and often, at the high school and even elementary level.

As the older generation is slowly replaced by youth, there are signs that by reaching out and removing barriers to voting, politicians can encourage a shift for the younger generation into rich political life. Given their numbers, millennials have the power to swing elections. And because they tend to be free of partisan attachments, their votes are far easier to win than the older generation’s. Youth have the power to make a significant difference in this election; they have the power to be a massive force for cultural change if they choose to accept it.

Back to that 38.8 per cent youth voter turnout number from 2011: that was up two per cent from 2008. Maybe we’re on an upward trend? Show up on Monday, October 19 and be a part of it.

-ROCK THE VOTE

For the full text of the Samara report and other useful resources, visit <samaracanada.com>. Elections Canada’s National Youth Survey is available at <elections.ca>.

“WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE SIT OUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS WHEN SO MUCH IS AT STAKE FOR THEIR FUTURE.”

What Makes Someone Vote?

Why do some Canadians decide to vote while others abstain?

In a federal election campaign, millions of public dollars are spent explaining when, where and ways to vote. Moreover, people are legally entitled to take time to vote, and tens of thousands of polling stations are open across the country— advance polls and mail-in ballots are available too. Yet in the 2011 federal election, two in five Canadians didn’t cast a ballot. Why? While there is no easy answer, academic research has articulated six general explanations for why people may choose to cast a ballot:

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They feel obligated: people feel as though they should vote because it’s expected of them as citizens.

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They feel social pressure to vote: friends or family, teachers or colleagues show them that political participation is valuable.

After all, people are social creatures—we like to do what others are doing.

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They see that something is at stake: voting rates tend to go up when voters think every ballot counts, such as when there’s a close race or a particularly critical issue being debated.

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They have already voted: after their third time voting, people are more likely to continue doing so because it’s become a habit.

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Barriers have been eliminated: people are more likely to vote if it’s easy—they have the required documents (e.g. photo ID, voter information cards); know when and where to cast a ballot; and can get there easily, without geographical barriers or mobility issues.

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They have been contacted: people are more likely to vote once they’ve been asked to. They’re most likely to vote when the person asking them is a friend or someone familiar to them, but even a stranger can affect someone’s willingness to vote.

When a potential voter experiences some or all of these elements, they are much more likely to vote. source: <samaracanada.com>

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THE MARTIAN BOOK REVIEW Alyssa Morton The Navigator Andy Weir’s book The Martian encapsulates the wondrous question of “what if” in character, plot, and the narrative story, creating a piece where the reader excitedly wonders if our main character will die or not.

Weir’s own knowledge of space exploration and technological development gives tangible evidence to these questions, helping the readers immerse themselves in the story and believe much of the unknown that is faced. This is one of the highlights in reading The Martian—how easily you can immerse yourself in the new and slightly futuristic world. It’s there, just barely out of our reach and well within our sight. With this world building, readers immerse themselves even more into the story, and the plots and setbacks faced throughout the story hit a little closer to home. At points, you are left wondering at what point in our future we will be reading a story like this.

It would be easy to have a story like this be incredibly dark, the character brooding and glooming, all hope lost. Instead, the reader is met with Mark Watney, a man that makes jabs, jokes, and puns every step he can. Faced with the probability that he will die on this

planet long before help can ever reach him, Watney takes moments to ponder world-shattering thoughts like, “How come Aquaman can control whales? They’re mammals!

Makes no sense.”

Throughout the book, readers will find themselves laughing. Because of this, a story that takes the Man vs.

Nature story to new heights is not the doom and gloom we are used to. You have confidence in Watney. Instead of anxiously asking, “How are you ever going to survive this latest problem?” you sit back and say, “I know you can get through this, now tell me how.” This confidence in a character is refreshing, and readers will find themselves rooting heavily for our stranded hero.

This story is not just Watney’s story—Weir gently bounces from Watney’s first person narrative to a more omniscient third person as people learn of his survival, and then work on the impossible task of bringing him home. Switching between first and third person is a writing rule that wars are fought over. You’re either told never to do it, or you find a teacher that gleefully rubs their hands together and encourages such shenanigans.

And The Martian adds another notch into the belt for this.

Although you love Watney, it’s refreshing at times to pull back and see things he doesn’t see, view

TALKING POINTS • • • •

Debut novel for Andy Weir NASA-approved reading material Movie coming out in early October Moves through third and first person, but doesn’t make a mess

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characters he may never meet. Along with keeping the story moving, and adding fresh perspectives, the narratives on Earth help Weir show one of the fundamental points he puts in his book: people want to help others. Whether they’re trapped on a mountain, victims of a disaster, or a solitary human stuck 140 million miles away, humans will go out of their way to help.

The Martian has a few blunders here and there, expected for a first novel, but its main fault is the ending.

Weir gives us so much throughout the book, gently building up tension until we are again shocked by the massive stakes that are at play. You are committed to this story, to the character, and as the final scenes play out you grip the book tightly, waiting for something to go wrong.

And then there is a little sign-off, and you are done. With how much you come to care for Watney, the radio show-style goodbye feels cheap, as if someone forgot the ending when the story went to print and another one was hastily written up. It was the largest flaw of the novel and it was enough to knock the rating down a whole star, but not enough to discourage others to read it.

Whether for the McGuyver stunts, witty commentary, or near future tech, The Martian is worth the read.

damelahamid.ca

LUU HLOTITXW

SPIRIT TRANSFORMING

THE DANCERS OF DAMELAHAMID

October 3rd 2015 at 7:30PM MALASPINA THEATRE at VIU

FIND TICKETS AT crimsoncoastdance.org 14

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TALKING POINTS •

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Zach Braff’s second time as writer and director Funded completely on Kickstarter Mandy Patinkin from The Princess Bride The soundtrack is an excellent Indie mix tape

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WISH I WAS HERE MOVIE REVIEW Alyssa Morton

Wish I Was Here is one of those movies that The Navigator somehow finds its way onto your Netflix “Recommended for You” list, and you sit there for a moment trying to piece together your watching habits in a desperate attempt to understand why it’s there. And since it’s Tuesday, and you’re in limbo between reminiscing/recovering from the weekend and actually doing your homework, you click play.

An indie flick with an indie soundtrack, indie camera shots, and indie clichés, Wish I Was Here is not soul-changing, and it never pretends to be anything more than it is—a character film.

Director and lead actor Zach Braff plays Aiden, a failed actor that finds himself homeschooling his two children when the family is unable to pay for Jewish private school. Since our immediate little family is a one-income family (mother Sarah (Kate Hudson) works an office job), private school was being paid for by Grandfather Gabe (Mandy Patinkin). Gabe has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and needs the funds to pay for a ridiculous treatment. Meanwhile, Noah (Josh Gad), brother of Aiden, has locked himself away in a trailer and refuses to reconcile with a father fast approaching his deathbed. If it was just these four characters— dysfunctional men all trying to play the biggest

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pity card, and a woman tiredly trying to keep them all on speaking terms—the movie would quickly die out and you would switch to Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer. But there are two key actors in this movie that make it go from annoying to endearing—Grace and Tucker.

Children of Aiden and Sarah, they are both robust characters that continually pull the others out of themselves for even the briefest moment. Tucker (Pierce Gagnon), offers many of the humorous lines with a deadpan delivery that would make Joey Bishop proud. Gagnon had already proven himself a capable actor in Looper and Extant, and Wish I was Here gives him the opportunity to stretch his skill without worrying about massive failure. And stretch he does, creating a rambunctious and headstrong child that steals and shares the spotlight with cohort Joey King. King plays Grace, the 12-yearold daughter who finds the removal from school hard to handle. Throughout the movie, Grace finds solace and strength in Judaism, fighting to mesh it into a family that is largely atheist. Her own growth, and relationship with Aiden, creates a small coming-of-age story that leads and reflects Aiden’s own attempt to finally grow into his role as husband and father.

The children bring high humour and a sense

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of wonder and determination throughout the film, helping to keep everyone else’s self-pity at a tolerable level. It helps the audience empathize with Aiden, instead of simply wanting to strangle the man while yelling at him to grow up. Aiden strives hard for his kids, working to right wrongs and give them experiences they’ll treasure. That devotion, that strive to do the best he can for them, makes you root for the man, even if it’s just a little.

Eventually we get to the end of the movie, and the story peaks with the moral and take-away of understanding where your values should lie, and that just because you don’t fulfil your dream doesn’t mean you’ve failed. The problem is this ground has been covered time and time again, and it feels as if the script has been copied and pasted from any other indie flick. Still, it tugs at a few heartstrings, gives a number of good laughs, and the soundtrack is worth having the movie play in the background at least. This movie fits well as a gentle film that can fade in and out, perfect for those Tuesdays when you’re stuck in limbo.

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VIU HOSTS. NANAIMO’S. FIRST. GAMING. CONVENTION.

Alyssa Morton

“Look, it’s bigger on the inside,” exclaims Jennifer Montgomery as she inspects the replica TARDIS. She was one of hundreds that attended the first annual MosaiCon on September 12. Rolling board games, video games, cosplay, and general nerdy fun, MosaiCon offered something for everyone. The upper cafeteria at VIU was packed with booths and console games, while the Royal Arbutus Room on the second floor buzzed with board and card gamers.

Event coordinator Marc Gervais developed the idea for MosaiCon when he realized there were no conventions of this style anywhere near Nanaimo— people had to travel around the Island or over to Vancouver to indulge in the fun. Being the first year, MosaiCon was a way to test the waters and see what the interest level was like in Nanaimo.

A quick glance at the Facebook event page, or Mosaic IT’s page, shows glowing success. Plans are already underway for next year’s event, and complaints are being met with enthusiasm and comments like, “We have room to grow to make this even more amazing.”

The Navigator

This year, event-goers were able to enjoy a wide range of activities. Video games included Mario Kart, League of Legends, and a retro Nintendo console that had people playing some classics.

MosaiCon even hosted a League of Legends tournament with cash prizes. Local business Two Headed Giant held a Nintendo Championship, with contestants participating in a triathlon of Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris.

For card and board game fans, a Magic: The Gathering tournament was available, and a Dungeons and Dragons Adventure League was open to all ranges of skill. One of the exhibitors also brought over 60 different board games for guests to play with. Settlers of Catan, Forbidden Island, and even Blokus had people gathered around tables.

With excitement already brewing for future events, MosaiCon can easily be hailed as a success.

The merging of interests and events seemed to be the smart way to go. This little event held its own this year and, as was stated before, “it’s bigger on the inside.”

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1 — The event drew crowds to the VIU cafeteria and Royal Arbutus Room.

2 — From left to right (preferred to be named in character): Joker, Catwoman, Spiderman, Deadpool, Death Stroke, Emma Frost.

3 — Robert Ferguson playing for an unexpected audience during the triathalon.

4 — Scotty Rivest, owner of Nanaimo’s new comic store Two Headed Giant with a customer.

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5 — Natalie Golbeck and Kate Ward as Harlequin twins 6 — Green Lantern, Batman, and Spiderman marvelling at a DC­­-ent photo.

1-4, 6 Aaron Morin 5 Hayley Rickaby

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GOLD & SHADOW LIGHT THE WAY WITH TORCH Megan Wolfe The Navigator While standing outside of The Buzz Café, waiting for the doors to open for the concert and album launch, you could see the strong support Gold & Shadow has gained from the community. Many people in the crowd said they had also attended the band’s show the previous night at The Vault Café. Several members of the art-rock group came outside to talk to family, friends, and fans. The band engaged with the audience, laughing about an inside joke, and that carried through into their show.

Though the seats were filled at the beginning of the set, towards the end, most of those in attendance were at the front, singing and dancing along with the band as they played. The high energy of their performance carried throughout and even had band member Jordan Lineker jumping into the crowd and sing “Play another one if you feel like it” after they finished their set, which brought around their encore and a successful launch to their tour and new album Torch.

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When Gold & Shadow began recording in April 2013, the band was excited to hear those first playbacks of the drum and bass tracks. “The possibilities are endless” and “anything can happen,” said frontman Dane Letourneau. Now that the album is released, they’ve gone on a tour through Western Canada to promote themselves, and they strongly encourage other local bands to do so as well, saying it is well worth the extra effort to share their work. The name of the album is inspired by the themes of light and darkness, as well as redemption.

They want to invite their listeners to have an experience while hearing their album, to do more than put it on in the background. Go out and take a walk, give the music your full attention.

With punchy tunes like “Searching for Sara” and “Running Out of Room,” Torch will have you up and grooving along with it. You can find it on various digital retailers like iTunes and Bandcamp.

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HARVEST FESTIVAL 1

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Walking towards the venue, you can already hear the music and people. The place is packed, full of vendors and people of all ages. Pumpkins, squashes, beets, carrots, and greens are abundant. Food trucks advertise colourful shaved ice and delicious crepes.

The atmosphere is buzzing, full of talk and laughter. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day, one of the last before the rain comes.

Photos by Catherine Charlebois 1 — Nanaimo-Ladysmith Green Party

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candidate Paul Manly chats with a Green

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Party supporter as fellow festivalgoers have a look at vendor stalls.

2 — Colourful dahlias arranged for sale.

3 — Tea pot sculpture on display by St. Andrews Church on Wesley Street.

4 — Taylor’d Metals show a bit of tongue and cheek at their stall.

5 — Various squashes including an “ugly orange warty thing” line up a vendor’s stall.

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6 — Mini pumpkins make perfect decorations.

7 — Fresh carrots and beets for sale.

8 — Chris Andres plays up a tune near Electric Umbrella.

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MARINER HIGHLIGHTS Catherine Charlebois The Navigator

WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY,

SUNDAY,

SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 12 SEPTEMBER 13 VANCOUVER

NANAIMO

CAPILANO

VIU - 0, Quest - 1

VIU - 3, Langara - 1

VIU - 0, Capilano - 1

The 24th minute gained Quest the winning goal shot from 25 yards out. VIU did well the second half of the game but did not manage to tie the game. “We came out a bit nervous and it took us a bit to get settled and start playing like we can,” said Head Coach Anup Kang after the game.

VIU scored 30 minutes in with a great free kick

by Samantha Rodgers from 30 yards away. Eight minutes later Rachel Jones went to the penalty box and later converted the spot kick from 12 yards out, keeping the score at 2-0 at the half for the Mariners. The Mariners’ defense held strong despite repeated pushing from Langara. VIU added their third and final goal for the game in the 70th minute after a great combination play from Solana Ashe, Moira Brown, and Katie Rodgers.

The Langara Falcons managed to score only three minutes after a superb turn by Jill Kelly. This is the Mariners’ first win of the season.

“Langara is always a tough game and today was no different. Katie Rodgers was excellent.

Rachel Jones, Kaylee Dodds, and Moira Brown dominated the middle of the pitch for us. Maddy Dawson is such a skilled player, we asked her to play right back today instead of her midfield position, and she was fantastic,” said Kang after the victory.

The Capilano Blues scored in the fourth minute due to a miscommunication by the Mariners. This seemed to refocus the team, as they dominated the field for the next 85 minutes of the game.

However, they were unable to score, despite many opportunities throughout the game. Zoe Grace headed the ball twice but both times it was cleared before crossing the goal. Jessica Burma dominated out front, but her shot was tipped over by a Blues defender when facing an open net. The rest of the match had the two teams fighting it out with a lot of near misses, earning the Blues their 1-0 win.

“We had so many quality chances to score today and we put them under a lot of pressure. It was one of those days. Again, our young players played excellently as we were without Bronte Fitzsimmons, Carli Rey, Darby Cronan, Savannah Jensen, and Jill Kelly. There’s a lot of quality there; we’re hoping all will be available for selection next weekend,” said Kang.

Mariner forward Carli Rey retrieves the ball from Quest opponent.

VIU Mariners Flickr Account

The VIU Mariners stand as one after their match against Quest on Sept. 9.

VIU Mariners Flickr Account

Defense Sarah Meredith attempts to block Quest opponent.

VIU Mariners Flickr Account

Volleyball: For the thrill of it When we hear about sports, what typically comes to The Navigator mind are the big names: The Mariners, the VI Raiders, the Buccaneers. But what about the average university player? Though they may not play within the big leagues, university intramural athletes play with as much ferocity and competitiveness as their counterparts, though it may be for pleasure­—friendly play without the pressure of tournaments and having to travel for their sport.

Intramural volleyball player Colleen Haddad is one of them.

On her way to completing her Bachelor’s of Science in Fisheries and Aquaculture, Haddad has played volleyball since elementary school.

Having joined intramurals in 2013 after seeing an ad on the VIU website, Haddad has had the opportunity to continue with a sport that she loves without too much of commitment.

“By playing intramurals, I’m still able to play the sport and complete my studies as well as work,” said Haddad.

Catherine Charlebois

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SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

Not only is it a fun and relaxing environment,but it’s also a perfect place to meet new people.

“Everyone is super kind and welcoming,” said Haddad.

“It’s a lot of fun playing with people who are equally as excited about the sport.”

“I’ve always lived off campus, and for the last two years I was in the same class with the same people, so I wasn’t able to meet people doing different degrees. By joining volleyball, I was able to open up my friend circle.”

For those unsure if intramural sports are right for you, do not worry.

“I think it’s for everyone because there are different pools of competitiveness,” said Haddad. “There is Pool A, which is usually where the really good and competitive players are,and there is also Pools E and F for people who are new to volleyball.”

Anyone can register as a team or join an individual team where players likely won’t know each other at the beginning of each semester. Intramurals on campus are accessible to the

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public as well as students. Though registration is free, the use of the gym requires a small fee of $25 for students, $35 for faculty members and $50 for members of the community. If you’re looking for a low-key environment to have fun and stay active, please visit the Campus Rec page at <viu. ca/campusrec> for more information.

Colleen Haddad

TJ Heath

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sports & lifestyle

FAST FALL RECIPES Finding recipes that are quick, easy, and The Navigator nutritious is hard.

Between work, school and life in general, it’s difficult finding new recipes (or finding the time!) to cook something different, especially when it comes to the struggling student.

We’ve all been there, wondering what to make for dinner and just not finding anything interesting to cook among the million choices available out there. Let’s hope this one will make things easier on those busy days when coming home and cooking isn’t suiting you.

After seeing vendor displays at the Harvest Festival on September 12, squash was clearly a great option for a cheap and easy meal. Though the spaghetti squash holds less of an earthy flavor than you’d expect from a squash, it’s still a squash and has a bland taste if nothing is added. However, the insides have the amazing quality of pasta-like texture and shape.

Baking it, as well as adding a tomato sauce on top is a great gluten-free option. Whichever way you choose to dress up your plate, whether it’s with a meat sauce, simple tomato and onions or curry is completely up to you.

Catherine Charlebois

SQUASH SPAGHETTI Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Put whole squash in oven, roasting until a fork can easily pierce the outer peel and go all the way through to the interior. For a small squash, this takes about 25 minutes, though times may vary if the squash is bigger (if the “noodles” seem too crunchy after cutting for your taste, put it back in for a little longer).

2. Let squash cool, slice in half, remove seeds and strings and the flesh should separate easily. Make sure not to dig into the flesh­—that’s what you’ll have to scrape out for the noodles.

3. After the inside is nice and smooth, take a fork and gently pull the flesh horizontally, raking to make the longest “noodles.”

4. Serve right away with sauce of your choosing, or tossed with a little butter or olive oil. The noodles can be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for up to three months.

You can also save and roast the seeds like pumpkin seeds—a tasty snack on your way to class.

Now that you’ve had a nutritious dinner, why not top it all off with a healthy dessert to satisfy that sweet tooth?

DATE KISSES Ingredients:

• Medjool dates (cheapest container at Superstore and only in produce) • Walnuts, or pecan halves, or peanut butter • 1 cup of shredded unsweetened coconut

Instructions:

1. Cut dates lengthwise and remove pit and cap.

2. Insert one or two nut halves or fill cavity with 1 tsp. of peanut butter.

3. Push stuffed date into coconut to create “dusting” on top and place on plate or individual candy wrappers.

4. Though the recipe calls for either one filling or another, be creative, mix both, or you can even add cream cheese as a filling.

Enjoy!

#002

Need motivation to hit the gym or eat your greens?

Natalie Gates

VIU Campus Rec’s successful program Personal Activity The Navigator Choices and Eating Sensibly (PACES) gives students an incentive to eat healthy and exercise, as well as an opportunity to win prizes. Beginning again on September 28, participants will record their physical activity minutes and fruit and vegetable intake for nine weeks, ending November 27.

By recording and submitting their exercise minutes and fruit and vegetable intake on activity cards (each worth 10 hours of exercise), participants are entered into a draw for various prizes. The cards will be counted and documented weekly, where participants will be placed in one of three tiers, depending on how many activity cards they submit. They will then be notified by phone or email to pick up their prize at the gym.

Bronze tier (one to four cards) will win a lanyard, silver tier (fiveto eight cards) will win a water bottle, and gold tier (nine or more cards) will win a tumbler. In addition to the tier prizes, there will be three draws on October 14, November 4, and November 25 for bigger prizes, such as Magic Bullet blenders.

Campus Rec’s Fitness and Lifestyle Technician Karen Alden spoke about the incentive and goals of the PACES program.

Navigator: When did PACES start?

Alden: PACES started in 2008-2009. It began as an individual challenge at first but then grew to be both individual and team challenges. Using the concept of PACES and adding a team challenge element morphed into a very successful program we put on called “The Biggest Luger.”

This program coincided with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, but also allowed us to meet Megan Simister who was an Olympic Luger participant in those Games.

Megan ended up being a part of this challenge and handed out awards to the winning teams of the The Biggest Luger program. It was a very cool experience.

N: Why should students participate in it?

A: Tracking one’s activity and nutrition allows students to add more understanding as to their patterns of eating and how much (or how little) physical activity they do. It is simply a tool to engage students in healthy living activities, to be mindful of what they eat and to get their body moving. Incentives like draw prizes are natural ways to also get students involved.

And, it’s fun.

N: What are your expectations with the program and the amount of participation in it?

A: It is really difficult to anticipate how many students will participate this year. In the past years, there have been anywhere from 30 to 100 people. We had over 100 people, both staff and students participate in the Biggest Luger competition in 2010. I expect (and hope to have) around 50 students participate. If there is more, that would be great!

N: What are your hopes for it?

A: My hope is that this type of program benefits students by reducing their stress at school. Hopefully they will increase their physical activity and be more mindful of the types of food they eat. This will result in more energy, more focus, and more confidence in everything they do. Overall, students will simply feel better and be able to cope and manage with the pressures and stress that school brings.

N: Do you think the competitive nature of it will make students more inclined to eat well and exercise more?

A: Hopefully. However, the competition is a personal one, so if it makes students more inclined to eat well and exercise more, then great. If a personal challenge becomes a barrier to this, then it isn’t the right type of program for that individual.

It has to be the right type of incentive and motivation for that person to be successful. Their measure of success is whatever they want it to be.

Participants can register and pick up activity cards at the gym front desk starting September 28.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS: Back to school It’s that time of year again— students new and experienced Contributor come together on campus with the goal of learning in mind.

Though exciting times for many, university is commonly the most stressful time students have experienced in their lives so far. According to a 2006 study by Statistics Canada, 75 per cent of Canadian university students are between the ages of 17 and 27. Is it a coincidence that this age range is also the most susceptible to mental health issues? I can only speculate. I can say that education about mental health is an integral part of maintaining wellness and coping with the stress of studies.

Mental Health Matters is a new, bi-monthly column in The Navigator dedicated to increasing awareness around mental health-related topics. The intention is to create a safe and objective place for the exploration of a number of subjects ranging from psychiatric disorders and stigma to self-care and self-harm.

Because this is the first column in the series, let me introduce myself and why I’ve chosen to bring these topics to light. In 2013, I graduated from VIU with a BA. I returned to VIU to complete my Certificate in Community Mental Health Work.

Since graduation, I have been working as a mental health worker within the public health sector. My work experience has been across a broad range of mental health services from detox and supported recovery houses to emergency and inpatient services. Now, on campus for my seventh year, I am working towards my Masters in Counselling Psychology.

Self-disclosure is a hot topic within the mental health field—clinicians are constantly assessing when and how to share their personal stories with clients in a way that is both helpful and ethical. Let me say this right from the get-go: I am

Zoe Lauckner

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not a clinician, a therapist, or an expert. This column is not a substitute for counselling, nor is it a be-all-end-all platform for getting all the mental health information you will need to make informed decisions. Mental Health Matters can serve as a stepping-stone for mental health education—some basic, foundational knowledge necessary in increasing awareness around these issues. Self-disclosure, when used properly, is a tool for building a relationship between clinician and client.

We hear this notion of “Be the change you want to see,” and I want to see people become more comfortable talking about these issues. Therefore, throughout these columns I will be drawing upon my own lived experience with mental health issues, as well as bringing forward information from experts in the field. I will also be inviting collaboration from you, the student body, to send in your questions and comments or perhaps to share your own experience with mental health issues. Let’s work together to create a safe space to explore mental health – we are all in this together.

Next issue’s topic will focus on self-care. The beginning of the school year is a great time to develop a self-care plan to ensure that you make the most out of the year while minimizing stress.

I will outline a number of resources to support you in this process, and invite you to be a participant in the discussion. Do you have some self-care strategies you’re using? I’d love to hear about them – send me an email at MentalHealthMattersVIU@ gmail.com and your strategy may be featured in the next column.

Stay sane(ish), VIU! Until next time…

SPORTS & L I F EST Y L E

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odds & ends

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Send any inquiries or content to <editor@thenav.ca> or visit <www.thenav.ca>.

All submissions must be original work of the author.

Editors reserve the right to refuse submissions, and to edit for space or clarity. Letters to the editor should be no more than 400 words in length. The Navigator does not pay for letters. Opinions expressed in The Navigator are expressly those of the author and/or artist and do not reflect the views of The Navigator staff.

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September/October

SUN

MON

TUE

WED 23 Music Trivia Night Students’ Union Pub 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

FREE

THU 24 Federal Election Candidate Meet and Greet Upper cafeteria 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

FREE

27 Tour de Rock Tofino to Nanaimo FREE

28 Money Matters

Word Storm!

Vancouver Island Regional Library North Nanaimo Branch

First Unitarian Fellowship – Nanaimo

7 – 7:50 p.m.

FREE

4 Mariners soccer Nanaimo turf 12:30 p.m.

FREE

29

5 Guy Mendilow Ensemble Port Theatre 7:30 p.m. $15

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

30 Every Child Matters Day Gathering Place FREE

$5

1 A Terrible Beauty: Edward Burtynsky in Dialogue with Emily Carr Nanaimo Museum 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

FRI 25 Vancouver Theatre Sports Improv Comedy Malaspina Theatre Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

SAT 26 PechaKucha Night Port Theatre 7:30 – 10 p.m. $5

$5

2 Nanaimo Fall 2015 Home Show Beban Park Auditorium 1 – 6 p.m.

FREE

3 Mariners soccer Nanaimo turf 1 p.m.

FREE

$1.75

6 Federal Election Candidate Meet and Greet Beban Park 6:30 – 9 p.m.

FREE

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/THENAVIGATORNEWSPAPER @THENAV_VIU

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